NEWS ANALYSIS: Will Supreme Court seek compromise on gay marriage?

5:58 PM,
Mar. 30, 2013

Written by

Richard Wolf
USA TODAY

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court appears to be looking for an exit ramp on the road to redefining marriage.

That was the simplest conclusion to be drawn from Tuesday's historic, 80-minute oral argument on states' authority to ban same-sex marriage. For while the justices often lined up on familiar liberal and conservative sides, a majority appeared headed toward caution and compromise.

"You want us to step in and render a decision based on an assessment of the effects of this institution which is newer than cellphones or the Internet?" an incredulous Justice Samuel Alito asked U.S. Solicitor ...